WO2020162210A1 - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

This information processing device is provided with a generation unit that, on the basis of characteristic information items of a plurality of tactile presentation units having different characteristics, generates preparation information items to be used by the plurality of tactile presentation units to perform tactile presentation to a user. By the plurality of tactile presentation units performing tactile presentation to the user on the basis of the preparation information items generated on the basis of the characteristic information items of the plurality of tactile presentation units having different characteristics, the quality of tactile presentation can be improved.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and program

The present technology relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that process information processing for tactile presentation.

Recently, an input device equipped with a tactile device such as a vibration motor is known as an input device such as a game controller. With such an input device, the user can enjoy a high sense of presence by feeding back a tactile sensation such as vibration to the user in response to the user's operation on the content such as a game.

As a known technique related to an input device equipped with such a haptic device, for example, in Patent Document 1, a vibrator such as an eccentric motor or a voice coil motor is arranged in a grip portion that can be gripped by a user, and the vibrator is By controlling the driving frequency, give the user a virtual experience of the number of bullets fired from the gun and the firing interval of the game character, and control the magnitude of vibration to give a virtual experience of the gun size and power. A technique related to a game controller that can be given to a user is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-119125

However, the conventional game controller had room for improvement in improving the quality of vibration presented to the user.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present technology is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program capable of improving the quality of tactile presentation presented to a user.

In order to solve the above problems, the information processing device according to an embodiment of the present technology, based on the characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile presentation units having different characteristics, the plurality of tactile presentation units present tactile presentation to the user. It is provided with a generation unit that generates preparation information used for performing.

According to the information processing device according to the present technology, a plurality of tactile presentation units having different characteristics perform tactile presentation to the user based on the preparation information generated based on the characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile presentation units. This can improve the quality of tactile presentation.

The generating unit may generate the preparation information for at least one tactile presenting unit based on the characteristic information so that common tactile presenting is performed by the plurality of tactile presenting units. May be configured as.

The characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit may be a frequency characteristic.

The preparation information may include a parameter for adjusting a command value that controls the tactile sense presentation unit.

The preparation information may include an inverse function of the characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit.

At least one of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units may be a linear vibration actuator, and more specifically may be a voice coil motor.

The generation unit may be configured to adjust a command value to at least one of the tactile sense presentation units based on the preparation information so that a tactile sense of a moving feeling is presented between the plurality of tactile sense presentation units. Good.

The information processing device may further include a main body having two grips that can be gripped by a user, and the plurality of tactile sense presentation units may be individually arranged in the plurality of grips. .. Alternatively, the information processing apparatus further includes a plurality of independent main bodies each having a grip portion that can be gripped by a user, and the plurality of tactile sense presentation portions are individually arranged in the grip portions of the plurality of main bodies. It may have been done.

Further, the generation unit, in the presentation of the sense of movement in which the tactile presentation positions continuously change among the plurality of tactile presentation units, so that a common tactile presentation is performed in the middle of the plurality of tactile presentation units. The preparation information for at least one of the tactile sense presentation units may be configured to be generated based on the characteristic information.

Further, the generation unit sets the command value for the one tactile presentation unit to the preparation information so that the tactile presentation at a specific frequency by at least one tactile presentation unit among the plurality of tactile presentation units is suppressed. It may be configured to adjust based on.

The specific frequency may be the resonance frequency of the one tactile presentation unit.

The information processing method according to the second aspect of the present technology is
Based on the characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presenting units having different characteristics, the plurality of tactile sense presenting units generate preparation information used for presenting the tactile sense to the user.

The program according to the third aspect of the present technology is a preparation for using the plurality of tactile sense presentation units to present a tactile sense to a user based on characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units having different characteristics. A program that causes a computer to function as a generation unit that generates information.

It is an explanatory view showing composition of a game controller which is an information processor of a 1st embodiment concerning this art. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus of FIG. 6 is a graph showing frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units of the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a generated acceleration and a frequency of a controller that employs left and right tactile sense presenting units having the same frequency characteristic. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the generated acceleration and the frequency of a controller that employs left and right tactile sense presentation units having different frequency characteristics. It is a figure explaining the presentation method of the feeling of right-and-left movement in the controller which adopted the tactile sense presentation part on either side which has different frequency characteristics. It is a structural diagram of vibration data. It is a figure which shows the example of the time history of an amplitude value. It is a flow chart which shows a flow of vibration control by four kinds of modes from reading of vibration data concerning this art. 7 is a graph showing the generated acceleration and the combined acceleration of the left and right tactile sense presentation units when a vibration command value having a frequency of “60 Hz” and an amplitude value of “1.0” is given as the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value. .. 11 is a graph showing changes in acceleration due to adjustment based on preparation information for the left vibration command value shown in FIG. 10. 11 is a graph showing changes in acceleration due to adjustment based on preparation information for the right vibration command value shown in FIG. 10. 7 is a graph showing accelerations generated in the left and right tactile sense presentation units at an intermediate time of the presentation period in the presentation of a feeling of lateral movement. 14 is a graph showing changes in acceleration due to adjustment based on preparation information for the left vibration command value shown in FIG. 13. 14 is a graph showing a change in acceleration due to adjustment based on preparation information for the right vibration command value shown in FIG. 13. 7 is a graph showing equalization characteristics given to left and right vibration data. FIG. 17 is a graph showing a range of accelerations generated by the left and right tactile sense presentation units by adding the equalization characteristics of FIG. 16. 9 is a graph showing the accelerations generated by the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L when the same amplitude value is directly applied to the left and right tactile sense presenting sections having different resonance frequencies. 18 shows accelerations generated by the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L when the amplitude values given to the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L are multiplied by a gain of less than 0 dB. It is a graph. It is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a game machine of a 2nd embodiment concerning this art. It is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a server device of a modification concerning this art. It is a figure showing other modifications concerning this art.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this specification and the drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

<1. Outline of information processing device according to the present technology>
First, with reference to FIG. 1, an outline of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an information processing device according to the present technology. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing device 100 according to the present technology is assumed to be a game controller, and includes a base body 1 and a pair of grips 10R and 10L. The pair of grips 10R and 10L are configured to be gripped by the left and right hands of the user at the left and right ends of the base unit 1. Note that the present technology is not necessarily limited to the game controller.

The base portion 1 is provided with operation buttons B1, B2, B3, B4, joysticks J1, J2 and operation keys 2 such as direction keys K1, K2, K3, K4, and a light emitting portion 3 such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). Is set up. The tactile sense presentation sections 4R and 4L are mounted on the pair of grip sections 10R and 10L, respectively.

Note that the tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L can be configured by linear vibration actuators that can give tactile sense to the user by physical motion. More specifically, an eccentric motor that can provide tactile presentation by vibration, a vibrator such as a voice coil motor, an actuator that can provide tactile presentation by pressure, an LRA (Linear Resonant Actuator), and an actuator that uses a piezo element. Can be used. In this embodiment, a case where a vibrator such as a voice coil motor is used will be described.

Actuators having different characteristics, for example, frequency characteristics, are used for the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L. Here, it is assumed that voice coil motors having different frequency characteristics are used for the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L. The left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L are both configured to vibrate in the same direction.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus.
The information processing device 100 according to the present technology includes a communication module 20, a processing unit 30, a light emitting unit 3, and two tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L.
The communication module 20 is a module that communicates with a higher-level device such as a game console body, and the communication may be wired communication or wireless communication.

The processing unit 30 includes a main control unit 31 (corresponding to a “generation unit” in claims), an input reception unit 32, a light emission control unit 33, a triaxial acceleration sensor 34, a triaxial gyro sensor 35, and a drive control unit. Have 36. The main control unit 31, the input reception unit 32, the light emission control unit 33, the drive control unit 36, and the like are configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, other circuits, and the like. The memory stores a control program executed by the CPU.

The main control unit 31 controls the input reception unit 32, the light emission control unit 33, the triaxial acceleration sensor 34, the triaxial gyro sensor 35, and the drive control unit 36, and sends and receives data such as vibration data to and from the communication module 20. I do.

The input reception unit 32 detects that the user has operated the operation buttons B1, B2, B3, B4, the joysticks J1, J2 and the direction keys K1, K2, K3, K4, which are the operation unit 2, and the detected operation signals. To the main controller 31. The main control unit 31 supplies the operation signal received by the input receiving unit 32 to the communication module 20. The communication module 20 transmits the operation signal supplied from the input reception unit 32 to the host device.

The main control unit 31 notifies the light emission color to the light emission control unit 33 based on the information specifying the light emission color of the light emitting unit 3 received from the host device through the communication module 20. The light emission control unit 33 controls the light emission (lighting) of the light emitting unit 3 based on the notification of the emission color.

The triaxial acceleration sensor 34 detects acceleration components in the XYZ triaxial directions of the information processing apparatus 100.
The triaxial gyro sensor 35 detects angular velocities on the XZ plane, the ZY plane, and the YX plane.
The main control unit 31 receives detection values from the triaxial acceleration sensor 34 and the triaxial gyro sensor 35, and transmits information on the detection values to a host device such as a game machine using the communication module 20.

In addition, the main control unit 31 uses the preparation information used by the left and right tactile presentation units 4R and 4L to provide tactile presentation to the user based on characteristic information such as frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile presentation units 4R and 4L. To generate. This preparation information is a vibration command value in the game program for at least one of the left and right tactile presenting sections 4R and 4L so that the left and right tactile presenting sections 4R and 4L can provide a common tactile presentation. This is information for adjustment. A specific method of generating the preparation information will be described later. The main control unit 31 adjusts the vibration command value for at least one of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L included in the vibration data received from the higher-level device through the communication module 20 based on the above preparation information. , And supplies each vibration command value to the drive control unit 36. The drive control unit 36 supplies drive signals corresponding to the left and right vibration command values supplied from the main control unit 31 to the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L, respectively.

(Frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile presentation units 4R, 4L)
Here, the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L exemplify frequency characteristics as mutually different characteristics, and the difference in the frequency characteristics will be described.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L. In this graph, the horizontal axis represents frequency and the vertical axis represents generated acceleration. Actually, the vibration command values for the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R, 4L are given by a combination of the amplitude and frequency values of the Sin wave or by free-form waveform data including positive and negative vibrations. In the graph, only the frequency characteristic, which is the relationship between the frequency and the generated acceleration, is shown.
In the graph, L is the frequency characteristic of the left tactile presentation unit 4L, and R is the frequency characteristic of the right tactile presentation unit 4R.

Here, the resonance frequency of the left tactile presentation unit 4L is 60 Hz, and the resonance frequency of the right tactile presentation unit 4R is 150 Hz. That is, the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L have different frequency characteristics. Note that the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L have substantially the same acceleration after 250 Hz.

In this way, by adopting the left and right tactile presentation units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics, as described below, the tactile presentation can be expressed more than when the left and right tactile presentation units having the same frequency characteristics are used. Can be expanded.

First, FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the generated acceleration and the frequency when the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L having the same frequency characteristics are used.
When the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L having the same frequency characteristics are adopted as described above, when the same vibration command value is input to the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L, the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L, The 4L vibrates at the same acceleration, and the user is provided with tactile sensation by vibrating left and right. Thus, inputting the same drive command value to the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L to control the respective tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L is referred to as "left and right interlocking control". According to this left-right interlocking control, by simultaneously driving the left and right tactile presentation units 4R, 4L near the resonance frequency of the tactile presentation units 4R, 4L, the capabilities of the two tactile presentation units 4R, 4L are maximally used. It is possible to generate strong vibrations (characteristics indicated by the dashed line). Therefore, it is useful, for example, when presenting a "gun feel" in a game program.

On the other hand, inputting different vibration command values to the left and right tactile presentation units 4R, 4L to control each tactile presentation unit 4R, 4L will be referred to as "right and left independent control".

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the generated acceleration and the frequency of a controller that employs the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics as in the present embodiment.
When the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics are adopted, different vibration accelerations are generated on the left and right when the same vibration command value is input to the left and right tactile presenting units 4R and 4L (during left-right interlocking control). Since it is generated, sufficient synthetic vibration can be generated in a wider frequency range.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, by changing the balance of the generated accelerations of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L with the passage of time, the localization position on the sensation of vibration is moved to the left and right (X direction). It is possible to present the user with a feeling of lateral movement.

However, when presenting the feel of firing of a gun in a game program with the vibrations of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L, when the same vibration command value is input to the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L (during left-right interlocking control). There is a possibility that the difference in the generated acceleration between the left and the right may give the user a feeling of strangeness.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, when the balance of the generated accelerations on the left and right is changed with the passage of time to present a sense of lateral movement that changes the localization position on the bodily sensation of vibration to the left and right, the following is performed. Problems can arise.
For example, in order to present a sense of lateral movement, the vibration command value given to one (for example, the left side) tactile sense presentation section 4L is continuously reduced over time, and given to the other (for example, right side) tactile sense presentation section 4R. The vibration command value is continuously increased with time in synchronization with the vibration command value given to one tactile sense presentation unit 4L. When the left and right vibration command values are continuously decreased/increased, if the left and right vibration command values match at an intermediate time t/2 during the period t from the start to the end of vibration, a natural sense of left and right movement can be presented. However, when the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L are different, the left and right generated accelerations do not match at the intermediate time t/2, so that a natural sense of left and right movement is not presented.

The information processing apparatus according to the present technology can solve the problem that the two tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L have different frequency characteristics as described above.
Furthermore, the information processing apparatus according to the present technology takes time and effort to generate a vibration command value that can eliminate a difference in acceleration generated due to a difference in frequency characteristics of the two tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L at the game programming stage. It is possible to solve the above-mentioned problems without requiring.

(Vibration control mode)
The information processing apparatus according to the present technology has a mode with optimization and a mode without optimization for each of the left-right interlocking control and the left-right independent control, that is, the following four types of modes in total.
0: Left-right interlocking mode (no correction)
1: Left-right interlocking mode (with correction)
2: Left and right independent mode (no correction)
3: Left and right independent mode (with correction)

Here, "0" to "3" are mode flags for identifying the mode. The mode with correction is a mode in which at least one of the left and right vibration command values on the game program is adjusted by the preparation information. On the other hand, the non-correction mode is a mode in which the left and right vibration command values on the game program are used as they are.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the vibration data 40 given from the game program.
The vibration data 40 includes a mode flag 41, a left vibration command value 42, and a right vibration command value 43.
The mode flag 41 is information designating one of the above four modes, and can take any value of "0" to "3". The left vibration command value 42 is a vibration designated value for the left tactile sense presentation unit 4L, and the right vibration command value 43 is a vibration designated value for the right tactile sense presentation unit 4R. The left vibration command value 42 and the right vibration command value 43 are, for example, data for the time of one vibration action on the game program. The left vibration command value 42 and the right vibration command value 43 are respectively composed of time histories (envelopes) of vibration frequency values and amplitude values.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a time history of amplitude values. The frequency of vibration is constant on the left and right. In this way, the left vibration command value 42 and the right vibration command value 43 include information on the value of the amplitude that changes with time. Of course, the amplitude value may be constant in one vibration action. The frequency of vibration may also change with time.

The main control unit 31 separates the mode flag 41, the left vibration command value 42, and the right vibration command value 43 from the vibration data 40 received from the host device through the communication module 20, and the vibration data 40 is designated based on the mode flag 41. Determine the mode to use.

(Overall operation flow)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of vibration control in four types of modes from reading of vibration data.
First, the main control unit 31 determines the value of the mode flag 41 included in the vibration data received from the host device through the communication module 20 (step S101).

(Left-right interlocking mode (no correction))
When the value of the determined mode flag is "0" (YES in step S102A), the main control unit 31 controls the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L in the left-right interlocking mode (without correction).

That is, in the left-right interlocking mode (without correction), the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value are directly applied to the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics. It is supplied to the drive control unit 36 so as to be used as (step S103).

FIG. 10 shows a combination with the generated accelerations of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L when a vibration command value of frequency "60 Hz" and amplitude value "1.0" is given as the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value. It is a graph which shows acceleration. In this case, an acceleration of "aL" occurs in the left tactile presentation unit 4L shown by the dotted line in the graph, and an acceleration of "aR" occurs in the right tactile presentation unit 4R shown by the solid line in the graph. As a whole, an acceleration of "aL+aR" is generated. At this time, the acceleration "aL" generated in the left tactile presentation unit 4L is higher than the acceleration "aR" generated in the right tactile presentation unit 4R due to the difference in frequency characteristics between the left and right tactile presentation units 4R and 4L. For example, in the tactile presentation such as the feeling of firing of a gun, the tactile presentation that is not intended by the game designer and has a difference in generated acceleration between left and right ends up being performed.

(Left-right interlocking mode (with correction))
When the value of the determined mode flag is "1" (YES in step S102B), the main control unit 31 sets the left and right tactile sense presentation units in the left-right interlocking mode (corrected) based on the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value. Control 4R and 4L.

In the left-right interlocking mode (with correction), the left and right vibration command values are given as the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value to the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics. The main control unit 31 adjusts the vibration command value for at least one of the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L based on the above preparation information (step S104). More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, of the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L, the tactile sense presenting unit (in the present example, the tactile presenting unit in which the generated acceleration is higher among the common vibration command values). Adjustment is performed by multiplying the vibration command value for 4L) by the preparation information C1 (C1<1).

Here, the preparation information C1 (C1<1) is generated from the information regarding the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L. The preparation information C1 (C1<1) is generated by the following equation, for example, where aR and aL are information regarding the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L.
aR/aL=C1 (C1<1) (1)

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 12, the vibration command value for the tactile presentation unit (the tactile presentation unit 4R in this example) whose generated acceleration is lower than the common vibration command value is generated by the following equation (2). The generated acceleration may be adjusted by multiplying the prepared preparation information C1′ (C1′>1).
aL/aR=C1′ (C1′>1) (2)

Thereby, even if the vibration data of the game program is not designed in consideration of the difference in the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L, the value of the mode flag of the vibration data can be set to "1", The left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics can be vibrated at the same acceleration in the left and right interlocking mode, and the tactile sense as intended by the game designer can be presented to the user in presenting the feeling of firing a gun, for example. Can be given.

(Operation in left and right independent mode (without correction))
When the value of the determined mode flag is "2" (YES in step S102C), the main control unit 31 sets the left and right tactile sense presentation units in the left and right independent mode (without correction) based on the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value. Control 4R and 4L.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the vibration command value (amplitude value) given to the left tactile sense presentation unit 4L at the time of starting the presentation of the sense of lateral movement is “1.0”, and the vibration command value given to the right tactile sense presentation unit 4R. (Amplitude value) is set to "0", the vibration command value (amplitude value) given to the left tactile presentation unit 4L immediately before the end of the presentation of the sense of lateral movement is set to "0", and the vibration command value given to the right tactile presentation unit 4R ( The amplitude value) is set to "1.0". In addition, the left and right vibration command values (amplitude values) are set to “0.5” for both the left and right at the intermediate time t/2 of the presentation period of the feeling of left and right movement.

In the left and right independent mode (without correction), the main control unit 31 performs drive control so that the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value on the game program are directly used as the vibration command values of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L. It is supplied to the unit 36 (step S105).

Then, as shown in the graph of FIG. 13, at the intermediate time t/2 of the presentation period of the sense of lateral movement, acceleration of "bL" is generated in the left tactile presentation unit 4L and "bR" is generated in the right tactile presentation unit 4R. Acceleration occurs. At this time, because of the difference in the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile presentation units 4R and 4L, the acceleration "bL" generated on the one hand, for example, on the left tactile presentation unit 4L is more than the acceleration "bR" generated on the other, for example, the right tactile presentation unit 4R. Will also be higher. That is, at the intermediate time t/2 in the presentation period of the left-right movement feeling, the generated accelerations of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R, 4L differ, and the natural left-right movement feeling is not presented.

(Left and right independent mode (with correction))
When the value of the determined mode flag 41 is "3" (YES in step S102D), the main control unit 31 presents the left and right tactile senses in the left and right independent mode (with correction) based on the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value. The parts 4R and 4L are controlled.

In the left and right independent mode (with correction), the main control unit 31 adjusts the vibration command value for at least one of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L based on the preparation information. More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, of the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L, the tactile sense presenting unit (book which has a higher acceleration with respect to the vibration command value of "0.5") In the example, adjustment is performed by multiplying the vibration command value for the left tactile sense presentation unit 4L) by the preparation information C2 (C2<1) (step S106).

The preparation information C2 (C2<1) is generated, for example, by the following equation from the information (bR and bL) of the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L.
bR/bL=C2 (C2<1) (3)
Here, bR is the acceleration generated when the vibration command value "0.5" is given to the right tactile sense presentation section 4R, and bL is "0. It is the acceleration generated when 5" is given.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 15, of the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L, the tactile sense presenting unit (the right tactile sense that is generated on the right side in this example) whose acceleration is lower than the vibration command value of "0.5" Adjustment is performed by multiplying the vibration command value for the presentation unit 4R) by the preparation information C2′ (C2′>1) generated by the following equation (4).
bL/bR=C2′ (C2′>1) (4)

With this, even if the vibration data of the game program is not designed in consideration of the difference in the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L, the value of the mode flag of the vibration data is set to "3", For example, in the presentation of a feeling of lateral movement, the generated accelerations of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L can be matched at the intermediate time 2/t in the presentation period of the feeling of lateral movement, and a natural feeling of lateral movement is presented to the user. it can.

(Vibration data in other formats)
In the example already explained, the vibration data and the time history of the amplitude value are used to represent the vibration data.However, as another format for expressing the vibration data, the amplitude at each time is directly specified without specifying the frequency. The specified vibration data may be used. In this case, the vibration data includes various frequencies, and the frequencies cannot be simultaneously determined between the left and right. Therefore, the following processing is performed.

In the left-right interlocking mode (without correction) and the left-right interlocking mode (with correction) in which the same vibration command value is used for the left and right among the above four types of modes, either the left or right vibration data is used as the left and right vibration data. In the left-right independent mode (without correction) and the left-right independent mode (with correction), the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value are used for the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L, respectively. Then, in the left-right interlocking mode (correction) and the left-right independent mode (correction) in which the correction is performed, the main control unit 31 generates the corresponding tactile sense presentation unit that is generated as the preparation information in the amplitude value at each time. The adjustment is performed by performing an equalization process that applies an inverse function of the frequency characteristic of.

Accordingly, even for vibration data in which the amplitude at each time is directly specified without specifying the frequency, the problem of the quality of the tactile presentation caused by the difference in the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile presentation units 4R and 4L can be solved. You can

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the equalization characteristic which is the preparation information. The dotted line is the equalization characteristic which is the inverse function of the frequency characteristic of the left tactile sense presentation section 4L, and the solid line is the equalization characteristic which is the inverse function of the frequency characteristic of the right tactile sense presentation section 4R.

In the left-right interlocking mode (with correction), the main control unit 31 is an equalization function that is an inverse function of the frequency characteristic of the left-side tactile sense presentation unit 4L indicated by the dotted line in the graph of FIG. 16 with respect to the amplitude value at each time on the left side. In addition to the characteristics, the equalization characteristics, which is the inverse function of the frequency characteristics of the right tactile sense providing unit 4R shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. 16, are given to the amplitude values at the right times. As a result, the left and right vibration command values are obtained in which the generated accelerations of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics can be matched within the hatched area in FIG.
As a result, even if the vibration data of the game program represented by the amplitude values at the left and right times is not designed in consideration of the difference in the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L, the vibration data mode flag Only by setting the value to "1", it is possible to vibrate the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics with the same acceleration in the left and right interlocking mode.
Similarly, even in the left and right independent mode (with correction), the game designer intends the left and right tactile sense presentation sections 4R and 4L having different frequency characteristics simply by setting the value of the mode flag of the vibration data to "3". It is possible to vibrate with acceleration, and for example, it is possible to present the user with a natural sense of lateral movement.

(Attenuation of resonance frequency component of vibration)
Further, by multiplying each amplitude value given to the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L having different resonance frequencies by a gain of less than 0 dB, components near the resonance frequency are selectively attenuated (suppressed). Good. As a result, the left and right generated accelerations can be made close to the same when the same amplitude value is given to the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R, 4L.

FIG. 18 shows the left and right tactile presentation units when the same amplitude value is given to the left tactile presentation unit 4L having a resonance frequency of 60 Hz and the right tactile presentation unit 4R having a resonance frequency of 150 Hz. It is a graph which shows 4R and 4L generated acceleration.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing the accelerations generated by the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L when the amplitude values given to the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L are multiplied by a gain of less than 0 dB. Is.

In this manner, the amplitude values given to the left and right tactile sense presenting sections 4R and 4L having different resonance frequencies are multiplied by a gain of less than 0 dB to obtain components near the respective resonance frequencies of the left and right tactile presenting sections 4R and 4L. By selectively attenuating (suppressing), the generated accelerations of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R, 4L can be made close to the same.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100, which is the game controller, generates the preparation information and adjusts the vibration data. However, the preparation information is prepared in the game machine main body (hereinafter referred to as “game machine”). May be generated to adjust the vibration data.

Game console has hardware such as controller, network interface, controller interface, media access module, and storage. The controller has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs arithmetic processing, and a memory such as a RAM and a ROM. A control program executed by the CPU, a game program, and the like are stored in the memory and the storage.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the controller of the game machine and the control program.
As shown in the figure, the game machine 200 has a content storage unit 201, a content processing unit 202, an operation command receiving unit 203, a vibration command value transmitting unit 204, a vibration data analyzing unit 205, and a vibration data processing unit 206.

The content storage unit 201 loads the content data of the media into the memory. Here, the content data is, for example, a game program including vibration data.
The operation command receiving unit 203 receives a command corresponding to a button operation from the game controller 101 through the interface and sends it to the content processing unit 202.

The content processing unit 202 processes the content data loaded in the memory, for example, in accordance with a command from the game controller 101 received by the operation command receiving unit 203 to generate video and audio, and displays them on a display unit and a speaker (not shown). Output. Further, the content processing unit 202 reads the vibration data according to the processing of the content data and supplies the vibration data to the vibration data analysis unit 205.

The vibration data analysis unit 205 analyzes the vibration data supplied from the content processing unit 202, separates the mode flag, the left vibration command value, and the right vibration command value, and sends them to the vibration data processing unit 206.

The vibration data processing unit 206 generates preparation information based on the frequency characteristic information of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4L and 4R of the game controller 101, and holds this. The vibration data processing unit 206, based on the determination result of the mode acquired from the vibration data analysis unit 205 and the preparation information, as in the first embodiment, the left-right interlocking mode (correction) or the left-right independent mode (correction). If it is, at least one of the left vibration command value 42 and the right vibration command value 43 is adjusted.

The vibration command value transmission unit 204 transmits the vibration command values for the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L generated by the vibration data processing unit 206 to the game controller 101 by wireless communication or wired communication.

In the game machine 200 of the second embodiment, the content processing unit 202 reads the vibration data from the memory in the game machine 200 according to the processing of the content, and the vibration data analysis unit 205 includes the mode included in the vibration data. The mode is determined based on the flag. The vibration data processing unit 206 generates preparation information based on the information on the frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4L and 4R of the game controller 101, and the mode determination result indicates the left and right interlocking mode (with correction) or the left and right independent mode ( If there is a correction), at least one of the left vibration command value 42 and the right vibration command value 43 is adjusted based on the preparation information. The left and right vibration command values obtained by the vibration data processing unit 206 are transmitted to the game controller 101 by the vibration command value transmission unit 204, and the left and right tactile presentation units 4L and 4R of the game controller 101 provide tactile sense.

<Modification 1>
Although the embodiment in which the present technology is applied to the game controller and the game machine main body has been described above, the present technology may be applied to a server device.
The game controller or the game console main body is connected to the server device through a network. Here, it is assumed that the server device is connected to the game machine via a network.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the server device 300.
The server device 300 has a CPU 301, a memory 302, a network interface 303, and the like.
The CPU 301 of the server device 300 presents the left and right tactile senses based on the characteristic information of each of the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L having different characteristics mounted on the game controller 102 based on the program stored in the memory 302. The units 4R and 4L generate preparation information used for providing a tactile sensation to the user.

That is, when the CPU 301 of the server device receives a preparation information acquisition request from the game machine 201 connected through the network, the game machine 201 transmits characteristic information such as frequency characteristics of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L of the game controller 102. Based on the acquired characteristic information, the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L of the game controller 102 generate preparation information used for presenting tactile sense to the user, and this is used by the network interface 303. It transmits to the game machine 201 through a network.

The game machine 201 stores the preparation information received from the server device 300 in the memory. If a non-volatile memory is used as a memory for storing the preparation information, the preparation and generation of the preparation information to the server device 300 unless the game controller and the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L mounted on the game controller are changed. You don't have to request.

In the game machine 201, as described in the second embodiment, the content processing unit 202 reads the vibration data from the memory in the game machine 200 according to the processing of the content, and the vibration data analysis unit 205 The mode is determined based on the mode flag included in the vibration data. The vibration data processing unit 206 stores at least one of the left vibration command value and the right vibration command value in the memory when the mode determination result is the left-right interlocking mode (correction) or the left-right independent mode (correction). Adjust based on stored readiness information. The left and right vibration command values obtained by the vibration data processing unit 206 are transmitted to the game controller 101 by the vibration command value transmission unit 204, and the left and right tactile presentation units 4L and 4R of the game controller 101 provide tactile sense.

<Modification 2>
The server device of the second modification acquires the characteristic information of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L of the game controller, and the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L of the game controller provide the user with information based on the respective characteristic information. Although the preparation information used to perform the tactile presentation is generated and only the preparation information is supplied to the game machine, the game program is executed and the related video, audio, and vibration data are transmitted to the game machine through the network. The present technology can be applied to a server device supplied to a machine.

In addition, the server device of the modified example 1 and the modified example 2 may be configured by one unit, or may be configured by a plurality of units.
Further, the server device is not necessarily required to acquire the characteristic information of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L of the game controller from the game machine to generate the preparation information, and the device ID assigned to the game machine. Therefore, the preparation information may be generated by searching the database for the characteristic information of the left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L of the game controller connectable to the game machine.

<Modification 3>
The left and right tactile sense presenting units 4R and 4L mounted on the game controller have been described so far as presenting vibrations to the user, but the present technology can be similarly applied to other presenting tactile senses to the user.
Further, the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L are not limited to adopting the same type of vibrator. For example, one of the left and right tactile sense presentation units 4R and 4L may be a voice coil motor, and the other may be a vibration motor other than the voice coil motor.

<Modification 4>
Furthermore, the present technology is not limited to being applied to a game controller capable of providing a tactile presentation to a user.
For example, the present technology can be applied to various forms of information processing devices including a tactile presentation unit, such as a notebook computer, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a head mounted display, and other wearable mobile devices. is there.

<Modification 5>
Further, the present technology is not limited to the information processing device equipped with two tactile presentation units, and is also applicable to a device equipped with three or more tactile presentation units.

<Modification 6>
Further, the present technology has a plurality of main bodies 1L and 1R, which are independent of each other, and have a plurality of main bodies 1L and 1R, respectively, each having a gripping portion 10L and 10R that can be held by each of the left and right hands of the user, as shown in FIG. 22, for example. It is also possible to apply to a set of information processing devices 100L and 100R in which a plurality of tactile sense presentation units 4L and 4R are individually arranged on a plurality of grip units 10L and 10R of 1R.

Although the preferred embodiments and the like of the present technology have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present technology can come up with various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the scope of claims. It is understood that the above also naturally belongs to the technical scope of the present technology.

Also, the effects described in the present specification are merely explanatory or exemplifying ones, and are not limiting. That is, the technology according to the present technology may have other effects that are obvious to those skilled in the art from the description of the present specification, in addition to or instead of the above effects.

The following configurations also belong to the technical scope of the present technology.
(1) A generating unit that generates preparation information used by the plurality of tactile sense presentation units to present a tactile sense to a user based on characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units having different characteristics Processing equipment.

(2) The information processing apparatus according to (1) above,
The generation unit generates the preparation information for at least one of the tactile presentation units based on the characteristic information so that a common tactile presentation is performed by the plurality of tactile presentation units. Processing equipment.

(3) The information processing apparatus according to (1) or (2) above,
The characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit is a frequency characteristic.

(4) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (3) above,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the preparation information includes a parameter for adjusting a command value that controls the tactile sense presentation unit.

(5) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (4) above,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the preparation information includes an inverse function of the characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit.

(6) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (5) above,
At least one of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units is a linear vibration actuator.

(7) The information processing device according to (6) above,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the linear vibration actuator is a voice coil motor.

(8) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (7) above,
Further having a main body having two grips that can be gripped by a user,
An information processing device in which the plurality of tactile sense presentation sections are individually arranged in the plurality of grip sections.

(9) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (7) above,
Further having a plurality of main bodies independent of each other, each having a grip portion that can be gripped by a user,
An information processing device in which the plurality of tactile sense presentation sections are individually arranged in the grip sections of the plurality of main bodies.

(10) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (9) above,
In the presentation of the sense of movement in which the tactile presentation positions continuously change among the plurality of tactile presentation units, the generation unit is configured to perform at least a common tactile presentation at least among the plurality of tactile presentation units. An information processing device for generating the preparation information for one tactile sense presentation unit based on the characteristic information.

(11) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (9) above,
The generation unit prepares for at least one tactile presentation unit of the plurality of tactile presentation units such that tactile presentation at a specific frequency by at least one of the tactile presentation units is suppressed. An information processing device that generates information based on the characteristic information.

(12) The information processing apparatus according to (11) above,
The information processing device, wherein the specific frequency is a resonance frequency of the one tactile sense presentation unit.

(13) Information in which the generation unit generates preparation information used for the tactile presentation units to present the tactile sense to the user based on the characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units having different characteristics Processing method.

(14) The information processing method according to (13) above,
The generation unit generates the preparation information for at least one of the tactile presentation units based on the characteristic information so that a common tactile presentation is performed by the plurality of tactile presentation units. Processing method.

(15) The information processing method according to (13) or (14) above,
The characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit is a frequency characteristic.

(16) The information processing method according to any one of (13) to (15) above,
An information processing method, wherein the preparation information includes a parameter for adjusting a command value for controlling the tactile sense presentation unit.

(17) The information processing method according to any one of (13) to (16) above,
The information processing method, wherein the preparation information includes an inverse function of a characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit.

(18) The information processing method according to any one of (13) to (17) above,
At least one of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units is a linear vibration actuator.

(19) The information processing method according to (18) above,
The linear vibration actuator is a voice coil motor.

(20) The information processing method according to any one of (13) to (19) above,
An information processing method, wherein the plurality of tactile sense presentation sections are individually arranged in two grip sections that can be gripped by a user.

(21) The information processing method according to any one of (13) to (19) above,
An information processing method, wherein the plurality of tactile sense presentation sections are individually arranged in the respective grip sections of a plurality of main bodies each having a grip section that can be held by a user.

(22) The information processing method according to any one of (13) to (21) above,
In the presentation of the sense of movement in which the tactile presentation positions continuously change among the plurality of tactile presentation units, the generation unit is configured to perform at least a common tactile presentation at least among the plurality of tactile presentation units. An information processing method for generating the preparation information for one tactile sense presentation unit based on the characteristic information.

(23) The information processing method according to any one of (13) to (21) above,
The generation unit prepares for at least one tactile presentation unit of the plurality of tactile presentation units such that tactile presentation at a specific frequency by at least one of the tactile presentation units is suppressed. An information processing method for generating information based on the characteristic information.

(24) The information processing method according to (23) above, wherein
The information processing method, wherein the specific frequency is a resonance frequency of the one haptic sense presentation unit.

(25) A computer may be used as a generation unit that generates preparation information used by the plurality of tactile sense presentation units to present a tactile sense to a user based on characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units having different characteristics. The program to work.

(26) The program of (25) above,
A program for generating the preparation information for at least one tactile presentation unit among the plurality of tactile presentation units based on the characteristic information so that a common tactile presentation is performed by the plurality of tactile presentation units. ..

(27) The program according to (25) or (26) above,
A program in which the characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit is a frequency characteristic.

(28) The program according to any one of (25) to (27) above,
The said preparation information is a program containing the parameter for adjustment with respect to the command value which controls the said tactile sense presentation part.

(29) The program according to any one of (25) to (28) above,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the preparation information includes an inverse function of the characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit.

(30) The program according to any one of (25) to (29) above,
At least one of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units is a linear vibration actuator.

(31) The program of (30) above,
The linear vibration actuator is a voice coil motor.

(32) The program according to any one of (25) to (31) above,
A program in which the plurality of tactile sense presentation parts are individually arranged in two grip parts that can be gripped by a user.

(33) The program according to any one of (25) to (31) above,
A program in which the plurality of tactile sense presentation sections are individually arranged in the respective grip sections of a plurality of independent main bodies each having a grip section that can be gripped by a user.

(34) The program according to any one of (25) to (33) above,
In the presentation of the sense of movement in which the tactile presentation positions continuously change among the plurality of tactile presentation units, the generation unit is configured to perform at least a common tactile presentation at least among the plurality of tactile presentation units. A program for generating the preparation information for one tactile sense presentation unit based on the characteristic information.

(35) The program according to any one of (25) to (33) above,
The generation unit prepares for at least one tactile presentation unit of the plurality of tactile presentation units such that tactile presentation at a specific frequency by at least one of the tactile presentation units is suppressed. A program for generating information based on the characteristic information.

(36) The program of (35) above,
A program in which the specific frequency is a resonance frequency of the one haptic sense presentation unit.

4R. 4L... Tactile presentation unit 10R. 10L... Gripping section 31... Main control section 100... Information processing apparatus 200... Game machine 206... Vibration data processing section

Claims (14)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a generation unit that generates preparation information used by the plurality of tactile sense presentation units to present a tactile sense to a user based on characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units having different characteristics.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
   The generation unit generates the preparation information for at least one of the tactile presentation units based on the characteristic information so that a common tactile presentation is performed by the plurality of tactile presentation units. Processing equipment.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
   The characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit is a frequency characteristic.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
   The information processing apparatus, wherein the preparation information includes a parameter for adjusting a command value that controls the tactile sense presentation unit.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
   The information processing apparatus, wherein the preparation information includes an inverse function of the characteristic of the tactile sense presentation unit.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
   At least one of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units is a linear vibration actuator.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,
   The information processing apparatus, wherein the linear vibration actuator is a voice coil motor.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
   Further having a main body having two grips that can be gripped by a user,
   An information processing device in which the plurality of tactile sense presentation sections are individually arranged in the plurality of grip sections.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
   Further having a plurality of main bodies independent of each other, each having a grip portion that can be gripped by a user,
   An information processing device in which the plurality of tactile sense presentation sections are individually arranged in the grip sections of the plurality of main bodies.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
    In the presentation of the sense of movement in which the tactile presentation positions continuously change among the plurality of tactile presentation units, the generation unit is configured to perform at least a common tactile presentation at least among the plurality of tactile presentation units. An information processing device for generating the preparation information for one tactile sense presentation unit based on the characteristic information.
11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
    The generation unit prepares for at least one tactile presentation unit of the plurality of tactile presentation units such that tactile presentation at a specific frequency by at least one of the tactile presentation units is suppressed. An information processing device that generates information based on the characteristic information.
12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
    The information processing device, wherein the specific frequency is a resonance frequency of the one tactile sense presentation unit.
13. An information processing method in which a generation unit generates preparation information used for the tactile presentation units to present a tactile sense to a user based on characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presenters having different properties.
14. A program that causes a computer to function as a generation unit that generates preparation information used by the plurality of tactile sense presentation units to present a tactile sense to a user based on characteristic information of each of the plurality of tactile sense presentation units having different characteristics. ..

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